Type wheel for marking machines



Feb. 9, 1943. Q B MEYE'RS 2,310,644.

TYPE WHEEL FOR MARKING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 13, 1940 PatentedFeb. 9, 1943 EJNi'i'ED PTET OFFICE TYPE WHEEL FOR MARKING MACHINESOriginal application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,699. Divided andthis application June 27, 1941, Serial No. 399,982

3 Claims.

This invention relates `to type wheels for marking machines, andespecially to type wheels which are made with interchangeable typemembers. The purpose of making a type Wheel with interchangeable typemembers is to provide for changing the character of the printedimpression without the necessity of removing the type Wheel from themarking machine and replacing it by a different type Wheel.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel typewheel which is constructed so that the members carried .thereby can beremoved from or replaced on the type wheel as a unit, thus making itpossible to change all of the type members on any type wheel withoutremoving the latter from the marking machine.

In order to give an understanding of the invention, I have illustratedin the drawing a selected embodiment thereof which will now bedescribed, after which the novel features will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a type wheel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the connected type members.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the end type member of the string oftype members.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the intermediate type members.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the type wheel with the typemembers removed.

Fig. 8 is an end view of a type wheel embodying the invention withratchet teeth for stepping the type wheel forward.

In the drawing, I indicates a type wheel embodying my invention which isadapted to be used in any marking machine, and 2 represents a pluralityof separate, independent type members flexibly connected together andcarried by the periphery of said type wheel. The type wheel may beequipped with any desired number of these type members, and they mayhave any desired spacing on the peripheral portion of the type wheel.

Each type member 2 carries on its outer surface a type character 3, andthe type characters for the various type wheels usually diier from eachother, so that by adjusting the type Wheel in the marking machine, anyone of the type members may be brought into printing position to makethe printed impression desired.

(Cl. lOl-) In accordance with my invention, the type members 2 which areseparate and independent from each other, are connected together as achain and thus constitute a type assembly which is removable as a unitfrom the type wheel I.

Each type member is shown as having a general T shape, it having thebody or stem portion I and the head portion 5 which carries on .itsouter surface of the type character 3.

The type wheel I is made with a peripheral groove ii of a size toreceive the stem portions 4 of the type members 2, and said type Wheelis also formed on its periphery with transverse notches 'l of a size toreceive the head portions 5 of the type members, said notches serving to-establish the correct spacing between the type members on the typewheel.

The series Aof type members 2 are yieldingly connected together in theform of a chain, and this is herein accomplished by Stringing theindividual type members on two coil springs 8 which are connected lattheir ends to the two end type members 2a and 2b.

The body or stem portion 4 of each type member is formed with twoapertures 9 through whichthe coil springs 8 extend, and one end Il ofeach spring is secured to one end type member 2a, and the other end l2of each spring is secured to the other end type member 2b. Theintermediate type members 2 are strung on the coil springs 8, as shownin Fig. 4.

The heads 5a and 5b of the two end type members 2a and 2b have Iagreater radial dimension than the heads 5 of the other type members, andthe notches 'la and 'Ib in which the heads 5a. and 5b of the end typemembers 2a. and 2b are received are somewhat deeper than the othernotches 7. When the type assembly in the form of a chain of type members2, 2a., 2b, is mounted on the type wheel I, the heads 5a, 5b of the endtype members will be occupying the deeper notches 1a, 1b, and the headsof the other type members will be occupying the other notches 1, asshown in Fig. 3, while the stems or body portions 4 of all the typemembers occupy the groove 6. When thus applied, the springs 8 arestretched or extended somewhat, and the resiliency of the springs andtheir tendency to contract and assume their normal length causes all thetype members to be held firmly against the periphery of the type wheelwith the heads 2 of the type members occupying their respective notches1.

When it is desired to change the type members on the type Wheel, one ofthe end type members 2a or 2b is lifted out of its notch 'la or 1b, andthe connected chain of type members can then be unwound from theexterior of the type wheel, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. Toreplace this chain of type members with a chain having diierent typemembers, all that is necessary is to place one of the end type membersin 'one of the notches 1a, or 1b, and then to wind the chain of typemembers around the periphery of the type wheel and at the same time tostretch the springs 8 sufficiently to permit the other end type memberto be placed in its deep notch 'la or 1b. The intermediate type memberscan then be shifted along the periphery of the wheel untileach typemember is received in its own notch 1. The tendency of the springs 8 tocontract serves to hold the type members securely to the periphery ofthe wheel without the necessity of using any fastening means for thispurpose.

My invention makes it possible to remove quickly and easily all of thetype members on any type wheel and to replace them by other type memberswithout the necessity of using any tools for this purpose.

If this type wheel is to be used in a machine in which it is to bestepped forward at each printing operation, as in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 313,699, led January 13, 1940,v

of which this application is a division, then the type wheel will beprovided on one side with ratchet teeth i8 for cooperation with asuitable reciprocating paw1 by which the type wheel is stepped forwardat each printing operation.

I claim:

1. A type wheel for marking machines comprising a body portion having anannular peripheral groove and peripheral transverse notches, a series oftype members, each having a body portion to be received in said groove,and a head portion to be received in one of said notches, and coiledsprings connecting the end type members of the series and on which theintermediate type members are strung, said springs acting to yieldinglyhold the type members in position on the periphery of the body portion.

2. A type wheel for marking machines comprising a body portion having anannular peripheral groove, and a type assembly comprising a series ofseparate independent type members each having a body portion adapted tobe received in said groove and a head portion carrying a type character,extensible spring means connecting the end type members of the series,the intermediate type members being carried by said spring means, saidtype wheel body portion having means for anchoring the two end typemembers in operative position, and said spring means being placed undertension when said end type members are thus anchored and serving to holdthe intermediate type members in their operative positions.

3. A type member for marking machines comprising a body portion havingan annular peripheral groove, and a type assembly comprising' a seriesof separate independent type members each having a body portion adaptedto be received in said groove and a head portion carrying a typecharacter, extensible spring means connecting the two end type membersof the series, the intermediate type members being carried by saidspring means, said type wheel body portion having transverse peripheralnotches to receive and position said end type members, said spring meansbeing placed under tension when said end type members are occupying thenotches and thereby serving to hold the intermediate type members inoperative position.

OTTO B. MEYERS.

